Liquor licenses, skid steer purchase approved
By Steve Van Kooten
The Prairie du Chien Common Council cut through another slim agenda during their June 17 meeting.
The council approved a swathe of Class A and B beverage licenses for 32 businesses.
Before that, Public Works Superintendent Nick Gilberts asked the council to approve the purchase of a tracked skid steer to replace two road graders that were sold in 2023.
According to a memo from Gilberts, the Public Works Department sold the graders because one no longer functioned and parts for the other were discontinued.
The memo also said that the skid steer would see more use than the graders. The purchase comes with a bucket, a grader-blade attachment with laser leveling and a dozer-blade attachment.
The city received three bids: Ritchie’s Implement ($100,955), Brooks Tractor, Inc. ($109,600) and Johnson Tractor ($108,100).
In his memo, Gilberts recommended the low bid from Ritchie’s Implement, which the council unanimously approved.
According to Abram, the funds to purchase the equipment are part of an upcoming capital borrowing.
Budget amendment
The council also approved an amendment to the 2025 budget.
“When we did the budget, we knew we had to stay under the 3.4 percent of the budget growth limit,” said Vicki Waller, chair of the Finance Committee. “When Tina (the city clerk) went to submit that, the state — even though it was at 3.39 percent — rounded it up to 3.4. In order to be in compliance, we need to reduce our revenues and expenses by $277.”
According to a document provided to the council, the city is incentivized to remain under the growth limit by receiving a payment through the Expenditure Restraint Incentive Program, which is estimated to be around $79,400.
The amended budget worksheet has to be submitted by July 1 for the city to qualify for an incentive payment.
The worksheet says that the city requested a $277 reduction in the general government expenditures and an identical reduction in miscellaneous revenue.
Prior to coming to the council, the Finance Committee approved the amendment.
In attendance were Alderpersons Nick Crary, Waller, Bob Granzow, Nate Bremmer, Kayla Ingham, Mark Bowar and Andy Ringgold. Abram, Gilberts and Police Chief Kyle Teynor were also present. Jaaren Riebe and Mayor David Hemmer were absent.
The next meeting is scheduled for July 1.
Other business
• Abram noted that the construction crews on the Pizza Ranch building put the roof trusses on the building earlier in the week.
